OpenAI is exploring a substantial increase in the price of its premium subscription to ChatGPT, driven by the upcoming release of advanced AI models known as Strawberry and Orion.
According to sources from The Information, OpenAI is contemplating a $2,000 subscription fee to access these advanced models. This is a major leap from the current ChatGPT Plus plan, which costs $20 per month and provides priority access, AI assistant creation, and the use of the DALL-E 3 image generator. The subscription period for this new plan remains unspecified, with the possibility of monthly or yearly options. We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge.
The New Strawberry and Orion AI Models
OpenAI is currently developing a new AI model under the code name “Strawberry,” expected to be unveiled this autumn. Strawberry is designed to handle complex, multi-step tasks, including solving challenging mathematical problems that typically require human-level reasoning. To achieve this, OpenAI plans to utilize cutting-edge learning techniques that will enable AI models to improve through feedback from people and real-world data. Moreover, Strawberry will assist in generating high-quality data for an even more advanced AI language model named “Orion,” which is also under development.
Financial Strain and Potential Shift in Focus
The creation of such sophisticated AI models comes with significant financial demands. Initially, ChatGPT Premium was projected to generate approximately $2 billion annually, but this amount may not be sufficient to cover the immense costs associated with the computing power required for these systems, notes NIX Solutions. Experts estimate that OpenAI spends around $700,000 daily just to operate the current version of ChatGPT.
Despite ChatGPT’s widespread popularity, with over 200 million active users weekly and more than a million business subscribers, OpenAI continues to face financial challenges. Recent reports from July suggest that OpenAI could lose up to $5 billion this year, and without additional funding, the company may run out of cash within 12 months.
The introduction of the $2,000 subscription could mark a significant shift, making access to the latest AI technology more exclusive to enterprise customers. However, it remains to be seen whether this aligns with OpenAI’s mission to “ensure that artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity.”